A memorial to Elifritz sits outside the Cityteam shelter where he was killed. Alex Zielinski

A Chicago-based civil rights attorney known for representing victims of police brutality has begun an investigation into the death of John Elifritz, the 48-year-old man fatally shot by Portland officers Saturday.

"We believe the narrative the police are putting out there is not consistent with what we think the truth is," Attorney Andrew M. Stroth, who is representing the Elifritz family, told the Mercury. "Our view is that they used excessive and lethal force based on what's clearly a mental health issue. What police did to John was unconstitutional."